Ablaze
I smiled at her words, her recognition of my stubbornness lightened the heavy load on my heart.
“I love you,” I whispered, pulling her close again so she wouldn’t see the tears brimming in my eyes. I felt the dampness of her own on my shoulder.
“Be safe,” she pleaded.
“You too,” I choked, before turning away so she couldn’t witness my pain. I felt her hand pull on one of my curls, letting it bounce back, the way she would when I was a kid. It took every ounce of me to choke back the sob that followed. Only when I knew she was gone did I turn, watching the glint of her flaxen hair as it caught the winter’s morning light. I stood there as they made their way deeper in the trees, step by step,
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